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Attic Treasures: Intriguing Collections at the RCHS by Donna Hassler, Director Rensselaer County Historical Society 59 Second Street - 272-7232 I recently organized an exhibition with Sharon Bates entitled Attic Treasures: Intriguing Collections at the RCHS which gave me the opportunity to become more familiar with the Historical Society's collections stored on the third floor of the Hart-Cluett Mansion. Little did I know what "attic treasurers" I would find behind closet doors and in file cabinet drawers. One of the most intriguing collections -- approximately 10,000 buttons -- may seem fairly common at first glance. However, native Troy collection Ruth E. Howe (d. 1983) sewed together thousands of buttons of similar materials on pieces of cardboard in wonderful patterns and shapes. With the discover of this collection, only a fraction of which is currently installed in the Jeanette and Carl Grimm Gallery, I was reminded of my own childhood fascination with my grandmother's button collection. It was not arranged in an orderly fashion as Miss Howe's but randomly stored in a round tin box for future use. To me, this box was my treasure chest filled with gold coins, and every time I would visit my grandmother I was eager to find a new trinket or two. Unfortunately, the present location of my grandmother's box is not known and was probably tossed out at some point. Museum collections, especially those in historical societies, have a wonderful way of connecting us with our past, no matter where we grew up or what our earlier experiences may have been. The Attic Treasures Collection is on view through August 1st In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation 
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